The overall health of skin is influenced by several factors, one of which is pH. Often overlooked is the pH level in skincare products and the role this plays in affecting skin pH.
If we use products that are too acidic or too alkaline, problems can occur. Indications that skin is too alkaline can be flaky, red skin. If skin is too acidic, the chances of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and acne will be present.
Cleansers are often a big offender at sabotaging the skin barrier.
Understanding Skin and pH
Two often overlooked skin barrier components is the microbiome and acid mantle. The microbiome is bacteria on the skin’s surface that guards against pathogens. The acid mantle is a thin film on the skin’s surface composed of lipids from the oil glands mixed with amino acids from sweat.
You know when the skin barrier has been disrupted when inflammation, atopic dermatitis, dehydrated skin (skin that is both dry and oily at the same time), skin sensitivity, or acne are showing up.
One of the ways it gets disrupted is using a cleanser that is not the right pH for your skin.
Pollutants, pathogens, excessive occlusion, detergents, soaps, cleansers, and hard water can disrupt the pH balance of the skin barrier. Hard water is tap water with a high mineral content causing it to have a pH of 8.5 or more.
It is very important to choose a quality cleanser to maintain a healthy pH on the skin. If you’re using an astringent cleanser and stripping the skin barrier of the “good stuff”, over time (and sometimes pretty quickly) the skin becomes compromised and when this happens a long list of skin problems can occur.
We recommend a cleanser pH of 4.5 – 5.5 because that is the same pH of healthy skin.
The moral of the story is, don’t sabotage your skincare routine by starting with a cleanser that is not a healthy pH for skin. You want to clean your skin, not strip your skin of the good stuff.
All B-BOX cleanser products have a ph level that respects and preserves the skin barrier:
- B-BOX Swipe Biphased Cleansing Oil for dry skin lacking oil or sensitive skin
- B-BOX Gluco-Foam Foaming Cleanser for all skin types that prefer a foamy texture
- B-BOX 360° Cleansing Milk for dehydrated, normal or combination skin
- B-BOX Total pH Balancing Essence the perfect product for maintaining a balanced pH